The whole campus is frustrated. Another $1,300 has been piled on to the thousands it costs to go to JBU.
While we’re frustrated, it’s understandable. It’s the “cost of doing business” as the University put it. The bills need to be paid and it’s not really the fault of the school.
But we’re all frustrated anyways. It’s another sign of the times for our generation. The job market is the bleakest for 18-25 year-olds as it has ever been and the economy is still sluggish.
And now there is another $1,300 – sometimes the difference between fulfilling the dream of secondary education or staying home.
Even more grating is a tuition hike amidst the historic $118 million campaign that shattered fundraising records to build a campus some now cannot afford to attend.
As students voiced their responses on Facebook, one suggested that students need scholarships more than new buildings.
Another argued that in the three years they’ve attended the University tuition has gone up, but their scholarships haven’t.
JBU’s campaign to modernize the campus to help students be more competitive in the world was extremely successful and noble, but is now at a close.
What’s next? What will be JBU’s next priority?
The campus suggests that students be the school’s next project and their top priority.
The fear of facing insurmountable debt shouldn’t be an issue if there were more scholarships instead of buildings or if the school worked that much harder to help students who struggle with remaining balances they are unable to pay.
As a University that prides itself on rankings, graduation rates and state-of-the art facilities, we can’t neglect the need for students in order to make all of this happen.
At its core, the University needs students to continue its mission to provide high quality Christian education, but at what cost?
The Threefold urges the University to make students its priority by focusing on their needs first and foremost, including their finances.